Hop plant named ‘Hort3953’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct hop plant is described. The triploid cultivar results out of selection from a population of seedlings derived from the deliberate crossing the unreleased selections 00-L125-09 (not patented) and 99-58-39 (not patented). The new variety, ‘Hort3953’, is distinguished from others by its late spring growth and late cone maturity along with a high alpha:beta acids ratio. The new variety is suitable for beer flavouring.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Humulus lupulus L.

Variety denomination: ‘Hort3953’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar was selected from a population of triploid seedlings derived from the deliberate crossing of the unreleased selections 00-L125-09 (seed parent) (not patented) and 99-58-39 (pollen parent) (not patented) in March 2004 at Motueka, New Zealand. Triploid seedlings obtained from this cross were grown in a nursery at the same location during the 2004-05 season and subsequently planted in the field. In 2006 ‘Hort3953’ was identified as having potential as a new variety and given the breeder code 04-39-53. This cultivar was selected on the basis of its agronomic performance, seedlessness and chemistry profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct hop plant is described. ‘Hort3953’ is a triploid cultivar, it is distinguished from others by late spring growth and late cone maturity along with a high alpha:beta acids ratio. It is also characterised by large cone size. The new variety is suitable for beer flavouring.

‘Hort3953’ underwent performance monitoring for agronomic and chemistry traits of commercial importance during 2006/07 and 2007/08. In 2007/08 it was asexually propagated via rhizome cuttings for a small plot replicated trial which was established in the 2008/09 season. The resulting plants were found to be true to type demonstrating that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and transmitted without change through succeeding generations. For four seasons, from 2008/09 to 2011/12, ‘Hort3953’ was trialled, along with three other promising selections and commercial cultivars ‘Pacific Jade’ (not patented) and ‘Pacific Gem’ (not patented), for its commercial potential. In the winter of 2009 it was decided to advance ‘Hort3953’ to larger-scale testing. Over the next two seasons the new cultivar underwent extensive brewing, agronomic, and chemistry evaluations at Motueka, New Zealand.

‘Hort3953’ is maintained at Motueka where it has undergone observations for uniformity. All plants have been found to be true to type, that is, no off types have been observed. ‘Hort3953’ is distinguished from its parental selections, as ‘Hort3953’ is female, triploid and has a seed content of <2% w/w of the cones while the seed parent, 00-L125-09 is a female, tetraploid and has a seed content of >10% w/w of the cones. The pollen parent, 99-58-39 is a male diploid. Under New Zealand growing conditions ‘Hort3953’ is distinguished from varieties of common knowledge by the following characteristics:

When grown in Motueka ‘Hort3953’ has late spring growth and late cone maturity while ‘Pacific Jade’ has early spring growth and mid season cone maturity. ‘Hort3953’ cones also have higher alpha acids content compared to those of ‘Pacific Jade’, along with a higher farnesene content and a higher alpha:beta acids ratio.

‘Hort3953’ cones also have a higher alpha acids content, farnesene content, and alpha:beta acids ratio when compared with ‘Pacific Gem’. When grown in Motueka the spring growth of ‘Pacific Gem’ is mid season as is the cone maturity whereas the spring growth of ‘Hort3953’ under the same conditions is late as is the cone maturity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the plant habit, cones, and leaves of the new cultivar as depicted in colours as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in colour illustration of this character.

FIG. 1: close up of mature ‘Hort3953’ vine in the studio.

FIG. 2: ‘Hort3953’ cones in the field.

FIG. 3: ‘Hort3953’ (A), ‘Pacific Gem’ (B), and ‘Pacific Jade’ (C) cones.

FIG. 4: Upper and underside of ‘Hort3953’ (A), ‘Pacific Gem’ (B), and ‘Pacific Jade’ (C) leaves.

FIG. 5 shows the four year mean of at harvest chemistry profiles for ‘Hort3953’ and two comparator cultivars ‘Pacific Gem’ and ‘Pacific Jade’. Trials and testing were conducted in Motueka, New Zealand.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of the new cultivar with colour terminology in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Charts (R.H.S.C.C.) 2001 edition. The specimens described were grown at Motueka, New Zealand. The observations were made over the 2011-2014 seasons.

-   Plant form and vigour: Plants are of a normal growth type and     produce a high yield (over 2750 kg/ha, four year average) of late     maturing cones. The main shoot of a one year old plant was 12.2 mm     in diameter with 232 mm long internodes and was yellow-green 144 B     in colour. The bine stripe is near yellow-green 144 A with small     proportion of weak anthocyanin colouration of near red-purple 59 B. -   Laterals: The side shoots from the middle third of the plant were of     medium length, an average of approximately 71 cm, and produce a     medium number of cones, an average of 37, from approximately 9     nodes. The side shoots from the top third of the plant were longer,     104.3 cm, and produce more cones, an average of 45, from     approximately 9 nodes. Whereas ‘Pacific Gem’ was observed to have     longer laterals from the middle third than the top third, an average     of 121.8 cm and 94 cm in length respectively, and ‘Pacific Jade’ was     observed to have laterals of a similar average length in both the     middle and top third, 77 cm and 68.7 cm respectively. -   Leaves: The leaves are strongly lobed with predominantly three     lobes, whereas both ‘Pacific Gem’ and ‘Pacific Jade’ both have     predominantly five lobed leaves. The medium—large weakly blistered     leaves are opposite with an auriculate base, acute apex, and broad     dentate margins. The upper leaf surface colour is near 134A with     veins having near 139C colour. The average leaf size is 170 mm in     length and 170 mm in width. -   Stipules: Are medium sized and upright with a narrow short acuminate     tip. -   Cones: Are long and cylindrical to narrow ovate in shape. The open     bracts have a right angle to obtuse apex, where the tip is     differentiated it is a medium length acuminate tip. Harvest is late     in the New Zealand season, commencing mid to late March, under     normal conditions. The cones average length is 50 mm with an average     cone green weight of 1500 mg and an average dry weight of 300 mg.     The dried cone bracts are near 144A in colour and the bracteoles     near 144D. -   Chemistry profile: ‘Hort3953’ has undergone extensive chemistry     profile testing, FIG. 5 shows averages of four years data. The data     provided compares ‘Hort3953’ with ‘Pacific Gem’ and ‘Pacific Jade’     as these are commonly grown alpha hop cultivars in New Zealand. The     chemistry profile of ‘Hort3953’ differs significantly from both     ‘Pacific Gem’ and ‘Pacific Jade’ in a number of ways; these include     a higher percentage of alpha acids and slightly lower percentage of     beta acids than either comparator. ‘Hort3953’ has a similar     cohumulone percentage to ‘Pacific Jade’, both of which are     considerably lower than that of ‘Pacific Gem’. ‘Hort3953’ has an     average of 6% farnesene while both comparators have around 0.2%     whereas both comparators have higher caryophyllene and humulene     percentages. -   Use: Primarily flavouring and bittering ingredient for beer. -   Pest and disease: ‘Hort3953’ does not appear particularly resistant     or susceptible to any particular pests or diseases known to afflict     Humulus lupulus. -   Hardiness: The plant cold hardiness according to the American zone     classification has not been determined. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct hop plant substantially as described and illustrated herein. 